ISLAMABAD: The finance committee of the National Assembly has not only expressed displeasure over the absence of the secretary finance but was completely dissatisfied over the briefing by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) into the Torkham border scam of allowing hundreds of containers into Pakistan without duties and taxes from Afghanistan, and sought the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s report into the matter.
A meeting of the finance committee of the National Assembly presided over by Faiz Ullah expressed displeasure at the absence of secretary finance and others and directed the secretary Committee for issuance of displeasure note to all concerned.
The committee unanimously observed that Legislative Business (Government Bills) would not be considered in the absence of the Advisor on Finance with PML-N's Aisha Ghaus Pasha suggesting that if the adviser did not turn up in the next meeting, Minister Incharge (Prime Minister) might be asked to appear.
On the issue of Torkham border scam, the chairman FBR admitted that as per FBR JIT report into the scam of Torkham border submitted on May 18, 2020, that 113 vehicles crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan, wherein, neither goods declaration nor record for deposit of leviable duties/taxes were found.
He added that criminal cases were lodged against the culprits, and promised to submit a report to the committee after getting it from the FIA within 30 days.
The committee also decided that the FIA and the IB would be asked to appear in the next meeting, and asked the FBR as well as to put up inquiry report conducted by the FIA in the Torkham scam to the committee within 30 days.
Some committee members' apprehension has been that the FBR JIT report was an effort to hush up the Custom scam, and therefore, junior level staff was being made a scapegoat in the report to protect the senior officials.
After a detailed discussion, the committee identified administrative loopholes and procedures adopted by the custom authorities at the Torkham border, and directed the FBR to share the details regarding the officers and officials involved in the scam including the actions taken by the FBR against them.
Earlier, while briefing the committee on the findings of the FBR JIT report, Tariq Huda member Custom (Operation) as per finding of the JIT, 113 vehicles were cleared from the Torkham border without checking, and the remaining 328 had been cleared after checking.
About the action taken against those involved, he said that 22 clearing agents had been arrested, and show-cause notices were issued to inspectors, appraisers, gate-out operators, examiners as well as principal appraise, and staff replaced with "honest" officials at the Torkham border.
He also revealed according to an investigation report that apart from 114 vehicles, 900 small vehicles had also crossed into Afghanistan from the Torkham border without checking but expressed ignorance about the investigation done by the FIA into the matter.
The committee also took strong exception to the absence of the Adviser on Finance and decided to provide him the "last opportunity" before moving a privilege motion against him in the National Assembly for not taking the committee into confidence over government's economic policies.
A member of the committee said he had not attended any meeting of the finance committee since assuming the office, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) member of the committee Nafisa Shah said that she was unable to understand that a number of government bills had been pending in the committee for quite a long time but the adviser was "least bothered" about them.
She added that the government would "reverentially" issue ordinances.
Shah added, "If the committee members including the treasury party support her she would move a privilege motion against the adviser."
The PTI members were wiling to support her but chairman of the committee wanted to provide an opportunity to the adviser, and stated "let us give him one more chance", and directed his secretary to write a letter to the adviser to attend the next meeting, otherwise, a privilege motion would be moved against him.
The committee expressed its displeasure at the absence of Secretary Finance and others and directed the secretary Committee for issuance of a displeasure note to all concerned.
The committee reiterated that Legislative Business (Government Bills) will not be considered without the attendance of the Advisor for Finance in the Committee meeting.
The Committee members were also of the view that Minister In-charge may be invited in the meeting.
Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (Inland Revenue), briefed the Committee about the fire incident that occurred in Faisalabad RTO Office.
The Committee directed that legal action against the culprits should be accelerated.
The chairman of the committee appreciated the role of chief commissioner RTO Office Islamabad.
The committee expressed its displeasure on the examination of valuation, rulings and procedures adopted by the Customs authorities.
Some members of the Committee were of grave concern about the role of director valuation.
Shafiq Ahmed Latki, director Valuation, Customs explained his position for determining of valuation.
However, the Committee directed the chairman FBR to look into the complaints received with regards to valuation and ruling issued by the director valuation.
The Committee also referred the matter to the sub-committee already appointed under the convenership of Faheem Khan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020